Vauxhall 30-98

Vauxhall 30–98
E and OE
30–98 OE Velox tourer 1924
Overview
ManufacturerVauxhall
Production1913–15: 13 cars[1]
1919–22: 261 cars[2]
1922–27: 313 cars[3]

E —  : 274 cars
OE—: 313 cars
AssemblyLuton
DesignerLaurence Pomeroy
Body and chassis
Body style4-seater Open tourer
Closed coupé
2-seater Sports tourer
chassis available for special bodies
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
EngineI4
TransmissionE — multi-disc clutch, Hardy disc joint between clutch and gearbox, 4-speeds and reverse right-hand change gearbox, open propeller shaft, final drive by straight-cut bevel
OE — as E but final drive by spiral bevel[4]
Dimensions
WheelbaseE — 114 in (2,896 mm)
OE — 118 in (2,997 mm)
Track 54 in (1,372 mm)[4]
Kerb weightChassis only: 2,912 lb (1,321 kg)
Velox tourer: 3,360 lb (1,520 kg)
Weymann saloon: 3,472 lb (1,575 kg)[5]
Chronology
PredecessorVauxhall Prince Henry
Successornone

The Vauxhall 30–98 is a car manufactured by Vauxhall at Luton, Bedfordshire from 1913 to 1927. In its day, its best-known configuration was the Vauxhall Velox (velox, veloc- being Latin for "swift"/"fleet" and the source of English velocity) standard 4-seater with open tourer body. Vauxhall's own description was the 30–98 hp Vauxhall-Velox sporting car. The 30–98 is also known to enthusiasts by Vauxhall's chassis code E.

In 1995 it was authoritatively described as one of Britain's best-known sports cars[6] and in the mid-20th century reported by Automobile Quarterly to be affectionately known as the last of the Edwardians and decreed as the first and perhaps the best British sports car.[7]

  1. ^ Beverly R Kimes, The Vauxhall 30–98, when an automobile becomes a state of mind, Automobile Quarterly, p312, Vol 3 Number 3, 1964
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Greatcars was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference AZ1920 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cars Of To-Day. The Times, 18 March 1924; pg. 7; Issue 43603.
  5. ^ Cars Of To-Day. The Times, 4 October 1927; pg. 6; Issue 44703
  6. ^ Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Designed for an Automatic place in History (Laurence Pomeroy), The Times, 7 October 1995; pg. 3[S1]; Issue 65392
  7. ^ Beverly R Kimes, "affectionately known as the last of the Edwardians or boastfully decreed as the first and perhaps the best British sports car, . . ." The Vauxhall 30–98, when an automobile becomes a state of mind, Automobile Quarterly, p. 313, Vol 3 Number 3, 1964